Life of Parents and Children School Education Affected By Covid-19

Students from the Montreal Metropolitan Community typically spend 5 months at home and will be returning to class soon. How were the children and their parents feeling in the evening of this unique start of the school year? There is enthusiasm, but there is also fear. Children and parents will testify. I’m excited to be back in school, “said 8-year-old Jeanne, who has been coming to Val-des-Ormes de Rosemère for the past 3 years. It would be nice to see our friends again and be in class. I studied at home in the spring, but it's not the same. I knew it was average.

This Is A Relief For Many Parents

Her mother, Marie-Hélène Fortin, is also interested. Because sometimes she missed her teacher and friends she says, “but also school. I'm glad Jeanne will be back in class. When the kids get used to it. My mother is not too afraid of the sick. We are still attentive and following the health directions and I hope what we perceive is a lot about children who are less detained and better. He also receives instructions on graduation or admission to the school.

Ophelia, a five-year-old who is in her first year at the Holy Child Jesus School in Montreal, is also looking forward to her school life. "I missed my friends," he said. I had computer lessons where I saw my teacher and friends at home but enjoyed watching them in class. "Her father, Nicolas Boisvert, believes that sending his daughter to school is right. the boy said only had one friend to play with within five months. Ophelie needs to interact. Education is not only about learning to read and write, but also about teaching children to live and interact with something that cannot be learned from online education. I think loneliness is big riskier for the child during the COVID-19.

This evidence reflects the results of a study by Léger and the Canadian Studies Association, which found that more than half of Quebec students (54%) are eager to return to school, but 30% are anxious and concerned.But for their parents, the survey shows that they are less worried (56%) about going back to school than the average parent in other Canadian provinces (66%).

Parents are Worried

What is certain is that while some parents are satisfied with their return to school and appreciate the health measures introduced by the Ministry of Education, some remain concerned about the situation. This is the case of Marwan Geagea, whose 8-year-old son enters the second year of the Varennes school. I can learn everything at home-grown, but in school, I don't know how well the directions will be followed," says the father.

He was not yet convinced by the idea of ​​class secrets. he said when my son is playing with his friends, it seems to me that I go to these children and their parents so often and I don't know how to protect myself in other families. I noticed some people know the instructions. They take it easy and that's why I'm worried. "

Alexandra Fioriello is surprised to see that the parents around here are not worried about this return to school, because her anxiety, in turn, is unstoppable. "I know there's a lot of ignorance about the virus," said the mother of two daughters, one entering school and the other at three, at a school in Rosemont, Montreal. In some professions, we do not return to the office until 2021. Workers do many things to protect our health, why not do the same when it comes to children? "At one point, my mother even thought of training at home to protect her daughters. “But I knew my job was impossible. But I wanted to continue my distance learning. "

It is not the only one, as an application will soon be filed with the court ordering the Ministry of Education to provide online education for primary and secondary school students. Parents believe that behind this requirement is that parents should be able to avoid sending their children to school if, for example, they feel that hygiene is not enough to protect them. For now, Quebec offers distance education to children who suffer from the disease or whose parents are at risk of COVID-19.

Manage Your Concerns

Even when parents have concerns, Geneviève Beaulieu-Pelletier, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at UQAM, reminds us that it is important not to convey your child's concerns. Saying words through what you are going through can help reduce your fear. It's also good to talk to other parents who share the same truth. See with them how they deal with their problems. And if you are worried about the situation, we can contact a specialist. Only one help can help ease this anxiety. "

I know that if parents are more confident, their children will be more confident," said Alexandra Fioriello. So I try to align my worries with my daughters because I want them to be happy and good at school. There are certain areas that I have to give up: I can't control everything that happens at school.

So it is based on what he sees. my mother said. And for the first few weeks, I think about taking them home for lunch to cut down on the time I spend at school. Cathleen Désir, a physician, also advises concerned parents to use health tips as a tool to protect them from disease and soothe them.

This is what Marwan Geagea will do. I will send my child to school and I have no other choice said the father of the child. And I know he has to be with the other kids, it's important to his mental health. But when he got home, he did a routine: he walked into the garage, washed his hands outside, and took a shower when he came home from school.

Yes, this return to school will be marked by unforeseen events and the virus will spread to all schools, the Ministry of Health hopes. "But the beauty of 5 months of training is behind us," said Cathleen Désir. He suggested that parents, based on this preparation, cope with the coming months back to school.